Monday night is prime time to shine for Texans

Prime time to shineDon’t tell the Texans that Monday Night Football isn’t what it used to be

MEGAN MANFULL, Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Published 6:30 am, Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Photo: Nathan Lindstrom, Chronicle File

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The closest the Texans have come to having the NFL’s undivided attention in prime time at Reliant Stadium was when they hosted the Packers on a Sunday night in 2004. The Texans lost 16-13 on a last-second field goal. less

The closest the Texans have come to having the NFL’s undivided attention in prime time at Reliant Stadium was when they hosted the Packers on a Sunday night in 2004. The Texans lost 16-13 on a ... more

Photo: Nathan Lindstrom, Chronicle File

Monday night is prime time to shine for Texans

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The Texans usually don’t have to look too closely when night-game schedules are released. Their prime-time action is typically reserved for Saturday evenings during the preseason. In the regular season, they have owned the noon Sunday slot. And for the majority of the past seven seasons, that time of day hasn’t worked out too well for them. This week, for the first time, the Texans will find out if they are better suited for Monday nights. A good outing on Monday against the Jacksonville Jaguars would do more than improve their record. It could boost the perception of the franchise on a national scale. “No matter how well we play sometimes on offense, it’s like after the Indianapolis game — people said, ‘Oh, I can’t believe they gave up 177 yards rushing to the Houston Texans,’ ” right tackle Eric Winston said. “I don’t think people really realize the kind of yards we’re putting up, because we’re not on a lot of national games. We’re not even on a lot of 3 p.m. games. “I think the perception is that we’re still a little bit of a weakling, and we haven’t done the best job of quelling that kind of talk. But I think we are a good team ... and I hope we show it on Monday night.” The Texans rank fourth in the league in total offense (371.3 yards per game) and in passing (257.2). From couch to field If they are going to put up impressive numbers against the Jaguars, they’ll need strong performances from a slew of players who have spent their entire careers watching Monday night games on TV. Only four starters on offense (Vonta Leach, Sage Rosenfels, Chris Myers and Kevin Walter) and five on defense (Kevin Bentley, Nick Ferguson, Eugene Wilson, Jacques Reeves and Anthony Weaver) have played in a Monday night game. Twenty-nine players on the 53-man roster have not. Backup defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina has played in 17 Monday Night Football games — the most of anyone on the Texans’ roster. “It’s always exciting to play on Monday night because it’s the only game played,” Zgonina said. “Nobody’s traveling home after a day game like on Sunday night, so you know your peers are watching you — and your family and friends, too. After all these years, it’s still a big deal to me.” Tight end Mark Bruener has played in 15 Monday night contests. Running back Ahman Green has played in 14. Green, who was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, has 15 touchdowns in his 14 Monday games. Only Eric Dickerson, Randy Moss and Green have averaged at least one touchdown per game on Monday Night Football (with a minimum of 10 games). Who will step up? Now, a number of Monday night newcomers will get their chance to be seen. They are more than ready. “Playing on Monday Night Football means so much to me,” linebacker DeMeco Ryans said. “This is going to be huge for us and for the city. ESPN’s going to give us a lot of coverage. Reputations can be made. If you play great on Monday Night Football, people don’t forget.

“This is something we’ve been looking forward to since the schedule came out, and it’s finally here. We’re ready to go to the showcase and show people what the Houston Texans are all about.”